5th District Dems cook up votes at Natick barbecue

As party supporters munched on cheeseburgers and other barbecue food Wednesday, the five Democrats vying for the nomination in the 5th Congressional District made their cases, saying they will bring progressive values to Washington, D.C.

As party supporters munched on cheeseburgers and other barbecue food Wednesday, the five Democrats vying for the nomination in the 5th Congressional District made their cases, saying they will bring progressive values to Washington, D.C.

"We all are progressive Democrats. We all will fight for (a) woman's right to choose," said state Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland. "We’ll all fight for equal pay, we’ll all fight for the environment. … We’ll fight for gun safety."

Spilka, state Sen. Katherine Clark, D-Melrose, Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, state Sen. William Brownsberger, D-Belmont, and state Rep. Carl Sciortino, D-Medford, are each vying to for the nomination in a district that stretches from Boston Harbor to MetroWest. They spoke Wednesday at the Natick Democratic Town Committee's annual cookout.

The Democratic and Republican primaries are Oct. 15. The general election is Dec. 10.

Spilka said track records set the candidates apart. She highlighted her willingness to battle for preventing tolls from rising in MetroWest and boosting transportation and economic development efforts.

She also discussed the role her family – including her sister who has Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease and her father who had a mental illness – played in shaping her beliefs and teaching her compassion, diplomacy and tenacity.

Sciortino, who became involved in politics advocating for gay rights, mentioned his work on a buffer zone bill to protect women’s access to abortion centers

"I’m not afraid to take on the tough fights, the controversial issues, the things people say are not worth taking on," Sciortino said.

Sciortino said he has worked hard to raise the minimum wage and close corporate tax loopholes. He said he will continue to fight for issues important to families and small businesses in Congress.

Brownsberger said he became involved in politics "from the ground up" as a parent worried about traffic safety and the quality of schools.

He said key issues are climate change, the economy and ending poverty. Criminal justice and immigration reform need to be part of how poverty is addressed, he said.

"If I am your congressman, you will know who your congressman is," he said. "You will hear from me a lot."

Koutoujian said he came from an immigrant family, including grandparents who escaped the Armenian genocide with only the clothes on their backs.

Koutoujian said he has worked on protecting the rights of women who are victims of sexual assault and instituting a workplace smoking ban. Issues such as women’s rights and moving off fossil fuels need to be a focus in Washington, he said.

"We need to take some of our work as Democrats and bring a strong, progressive voice into Washington, D.C.," he said.

Clark said voters need to send someone to Congress who will improve health care, Social Security and education and infrastructure investment and fight to end gun violence, issues on which extremists in Washington are not focused.

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"The issues that you and I talk about around our kitchen tables need to be the issues on the table in Congress," she said.

Clark said she can relate to many of these topics since she has three sons in public school and helps her parents navigate a complicated health care system.

Democratic gubernatorial candidates Don Berwick, Steve Grossman and Joe Avellone talked about subjects such as the economy and fighting poverty.

Erica Ball, who hosted the cookout with her husband, Jay, urged Democrats to remain energized despite the plethora of recent elections.

"We can do it again and again and again," Ball said. "I know you’re tired. ….(but) the next one’s coming up in October and we’ve got to be there."

The district includes the MetroWest communities of Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Natick, Sherborn, Waltham, Wayland, Weston and Southborough.

Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com.